From Zero to Hero: Building My First Automation with Aqara

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Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share my little victory building my very first Aqara automation — finally crossed over from just staring at the app to actually making it do something!

So I’m still pretty new to all this smart home stuff. I picked up the M2 hub and a couple of sensors during a sale because… curiosity. Didn’t really have a plan, just vibes.

Anyway, it started with me wanting the lights to turn on automatically when I walk into my hallway late at night (because, yes, I’m tired of fumbling in the dark like it’s a haunted house). I used the Aqara motion sensor + a smart plug connected to a lamp.

Set it up in the Aqara Home app– surprisingly not that intimidating once you get the hang of it. Trigger: motion sensor detects movement after 10pm. Action: smart plug turns on lamp for 5 mins. That’s it! Sounds basic, but when it worked the first time I was genuinely hyped… like, did I just build a piece of the future?

Now I’m wondering what else I could automate. Thinking of adding a contact sensor to the fridge maybe… could be fun?

Curious to hear from more experienced users — what was your first automation? Any beginner mistakes to watch out for before I go automation crazy?

Cheers!

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@AlexaAficionado Hey there!

First off, congrats on your first automation—that “aha!” moment when everything works is so satisfying, right? Your hallway light setup is actually a classic starter automation (and a super practical one—no more haunted house vibes!).

To answer your question: My first automation was similar—motion-triggered lights, but I made the classic mistake of not adding a “cooldown” period. The lights kept flickering because my cat kept setting off the sensor! Lesson learned: Always tweak the sensitivity or add delays if you have pets (or overly active roommates).

As for your fridge idea—go for it! Contact sensors are great for tracking doors (fridge, pantry, even windows). Just be warned: Once you start, it’s hard to stop. Next thing you know, you’ll be automating curtains, AC, and even your coffee maker.

Pro tip: If you dive deeper, check out “conditional automations” (e.g., only turn on the hallway light if it’s dark and there’s motion). The Aqara app’s “If + And” logic is a game-changer.

Keep experimenting, and share your next win with us! :rocket:

Cheers!